Arceneaux' bold talk less convincing after 23-6 loss to Blue Bombers

Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun07.27.2014

B.C. Lions' Emmanuel Arceneaux reaches but fails to make the reception during the first half of a CFL football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon waves to the crowd during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon wipes away a tear during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Lirim Hajrullahu watches as his kick sails through the uprights for a field goal during the first half of a CFL football game against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Courtney Taylor of the BC Lions barrells through the Winnipeg defence during the BC Lions game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place in Vancouver Friday night.Kim Stallknecht
/ PNG

B.C. Lions' Emmanuel Arceneaux reaches but fails to make the reception during the first half of a CFL football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Ex-BC Lions player Geroy Simon was honoured by City of Vancouver and Deputy Mayor Kerry Jang by announcing a Geroy Simon Day in Vancouver on July 21, 2014.Arlen Redekop
/ PNG

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Maurice Leggett (31) intercepts a pass intended for B.C. Lions' Shawn Gore, back, as teammate Bruce Johnson watches during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon wipes away a tear as his family applauds during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon wipes away a tear during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon waves to the crowd after a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon waves to the crowd during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon smiles during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon watches during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

B.C. Lions' quarterback Kevin Glenn passes against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Lirim Hajrullahu, right, kicks a field goal as quarterback Brian Brohm holds during the first half of a CFL football game against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

B.C. Lions' Dante Marsh, left, collides with Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Rory Kohlert, bottom, as Nick Moore, back, carries the ball during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Drew Willy passes against the B.C. Lions during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Lirim Hajrullahu, right, kicks a field goal as quarterback Brian Brohm holds during the first half of a CFL football game against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' quarterback Drew Willy passes against the B.C. Lions during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Maurice Leggett, right, prevents B.C. LionsÃ• Marco Iannuzzi from making the receptionn during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

B.C. Lions' Marco Iannuzzi, left, reaches but fails to make the reception as Winnipeg Blue BombersÃ• Maurice Leggett defends during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nic Grigsby (32) runs the ball past B.C. Lions' Adam Bighill (44) during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue BombersÃ• Mike Cornell, top, and Ian Wild, right, tackle B.C. Lions' Tim Brown as he returns a kick during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

B.C. Lions' Dante Marsh, left, collides with Winnipeg Blue BombersÃ• Rory Kohlert, bottom, as Nick Moore, back, carries the ball during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Injured B.C. Lions' quarterback Travis Lulay passes as his teammates warm up before a CFL football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014. Lulay is recovering from off season shoulder surgery.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Injured B.C. Lions' quarterback Travis Lulay passes as his teammates warm up before a CFL football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014. Lulay is recovering from off season shoulder surgery.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Injured B.C. Lions' quarterback Travis Lulay passes as his teammates warm up before a CFL football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014. Lulay is recovering from off season shoulder surgery.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Injured B.C. Lions' quarterback Travis Lulay passes as his teammates warm up before a CFL football game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014. Lulay is recovering from off season shoulder surgery.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Maurice Leggett, right, sacks B.C. Lions' quarterback Kevin Glenn during the second half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Former B.C. Lions' receiver Geroy Simon wipes away a tear as his family applauds during a ceremony where the CFL team retired his number 81 during halftime of their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 25, 2014.Darryl Dyck
/ The Canadian Press

Related

B.C. Lions’ receiver Manny Arceneaux is in the habit of saying, “I have yet to see a team that is better than us. When we get beaten, it’s B.C. beating B.C.”

It sounded cocky after the Lions defeated the Montreal Alouettes 41-5 on July 19, but you could understand why Arceneaux was feeling triumphant. He had just caught eight passes, three of them for touchdowns, in the romp over the East Division team.

That bold talk was still evident in Arceneaux’s voice again Friday night, even though it sounded much less convincing following a 23-6 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

It was only the Lions’ fourth loss since the team returned to its renovated home at BC Place Stadium in September, 2011. Two of those defeats, however, have come in the 2014 Canadian Football League season. The Lions are 1-2 in “our house” and 2-3 overall, placing them fourth in the West Division.

“When we don’t execute, we lose,” Arceneaux said. “It’s not the other team. It’s the B.C Lions.”

We’ll see if that refrain holds up next Friday, when the Lions play the undefeated 4-0 Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.

On a night in which the Lions celebrated the career of pass catching great Geroy Simon, by placing his name into the team’s Ring of Honour, Arceneaux showed he still has a way to go yet to be a reasonable facsimile.

Early in the first quarter, quarterback Kevin Glenn lofted a deep pass to Arceneaux, who had a step on his coverage and a clear path to the end zone -- if he had caught the ball.

He didn’t. It went incomplete. And the thought occurred: That’s the kind of play Geroy would have made.

“That’s the nature of professional sports,” Glenn said later. “One play like that can change the tide, and give you momentum. We didn’t get it. So, we came away losers tonight.”

After throwing two interceptions and failing to take his team into the end zone, Glenn was a ready-made scapegoat for an abrupt reversal of form by the Lions’ offence.

But it would be unfair to put the blame solely on the quarterbacking, although Glenn certainly was a contributor to the defeat. He was sacked five times (the Bombers recorded their sixth against backup QB John Beck). As well, 14 penalties for 122 yards blunted any semblance of growing momentum for the Lions, to say nothing of compromising the entertainment value for 25,231 fans.

Glenn threw picks to safety Moe Leggett in the first half and linebacker Ejiro Kuale in the second, and in both instances his decision-making was questionable. The interceptions were his seventh and eighth this season. Glenn was intercepted only seven times all last year when he was 10-3 as a starter for the Stampeders.

“The second one was more of a quarterback-receiver miscommunication,” Glenn said. “The other one was a punt. It was a long pass, the guy (Leggett) fell off and made a catch over his head.”

True, it was a great read by the Bombers’ safety, who returned the pick 25 yards to set up a field goal. But the pass was an ill-advised prayer shot, thrown into double coverage.

With the Bombers ahead 9-0 in the second quarter, Glenn also missed Arceneaux in the end zone on a second-down pass from Winnipeg’s three-yard line. Unknown at the time, it was to be the deepest advance of the evening for the Lions, who settled for an 11-yard field goal from Paul McCallum.

“A miscommunication,” Glenn explained. “He (Arceneaux) was thinking one thing, I was thinking something else. It’s just one of those things.”

Glenn, unable to develop any consistency, was pulled for two series in the third quarter and replaced by Beck. Beck did complete a 10-yard first down pass to Ernest Jackson on his second series, but Teague Sherman stripped Jackson of the football, another Lions’ turnover which led to a Blue Bomber field goal.

It was one of four turnovers by the Lions and it could have been worse. A pair of fumbles, one by running back Andrew Harris, were recovered by B.C.

Harris, coming off back-to-back games of 150 and 232 all-purpose yards, fell back to earth against the Blue Bombers. He had 11 touches for 61 yards.

“At the end of the day, it’s about execution,” said slotback Courtney Taylor. “You put up 41 points (against Montreal) and you executed. When you put up six, you don’t. That’s a good team we played. But I feel we’re better than that team. That’s something to be positive about. But we can’t afford to make mistakes right now. We’re not a good enough team to make mistakes right now. We have to execute and we have to be consistent.”

If there was something positive to take away, it probably was Taylor’s play.

He had four catches for 66 yards, his 27-yard pass-and-run play in the second quarter constituting the Lions’ longest play from scrimmage. Glenn fed him a two-yard pass, and Taylor carved out the remaining 25 himself, driving through a pile of tacklers with such fierceness that he pulled a giant ant hill of Bombers along with him.

It brought the Lions’ bench to its feet -- a promising spark that, alas, couldn’t start a fire.

END ZONE -- Blue Bombers’ rookie kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, a former Western Ontario Mustang passed over in the 2013 CFL draft, booted five field goals, two of them from 51 and 49 yards. The 51-yarder was the longest of Hajrullahu’s pro or college career. He has been successful on 13 of 14 field-goal attempts in 2014. His only miss hit the upright . . . Former Lions’ slotback Nick Moore had seven catches for 99 yards for the Blue Bombers. “I tried to tame my emotions all week. But, before the game, it got the best of me,” Moore admitted. “I was excited to be back here. The way our team played tonight, I couldn’t ask for anything more.” . . . The game’s only touchdown came on a 37-yard pass play from Winnipeg quarterback Drew Willy to Clarence Denmark in the third quarter . . . Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian had 12 of the Lions’ 44 defensive tackles . . . Kick returner Tim Brown and wide receiver Marco Iannuzzi dressed for the first time this season for B.C. Brown played a bustling game and praised the strength of Hajrullahu’s leg. “He did a great job,” Brown said. “I was fielding the kickoffs from the five-yard line, almost every one.”

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